The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-09-25
TERRIBLE ORDEAL.

Gen. Murat. who was in command Of the
French troops at Madrid, desired 10 send a
dispatch Of the gragest importance go sen.
Junot at lisbon. The distance was not
great, but the country through which
the MESSENGER would be obliged 10
travel was infested by a band NJ guer-
rillas who carried on M Irregular war
fare on their own account, much % The an
noyance and detriment Of the French army.
These iawless volunteers fought from their
smbuscades in the forests and mountain
passes with unparalleled ferocity. frequently
surprising detachments Of the regular army
and capturing their stores and ammunition.
The heroic deeds Of Gen. tastan0s, tbe guer-
rilla commander in chief, were echoed
throughout Europe. and 10 was well known
that he gave no quarter % French prisoners
Therefore Gen. Murat could 6ud n0 soldier
desirous Of undertaking an errand SD fraught
with danger.
In his dilemma he sought the advice OF
Baron Stroganof, the Russian ambass dor,
who was friendly TO the French cause.
The baron. being well aware If tine gravity
Of the situation, deliberated for several min
utes; the result was the following suggestion:
"Seud one Of Your most reliable Polish Iaucers
81 Russian uniform le said. "witA "A verbal
message to our admiral, now in Lisbon bar
Dor. lie. in turn. viii communicate with
Junot without arousing the slightest suspicion
OH the part Of the English so doubt Your
courier viii be arrested It score of times en
route, bat as my country has maintained
..rs--f ~-rr4 HI.. far Do b. MOI r.n.H.4N..
that the result viii be fatal Ca,tan0s is too
much Of a diplomat 90 risk the displea,ure Of
Russia, and. by observing She proper eau
ton, IL will not Doe difficult To- deceive him.
Gen. Murat was charmed with this clcTor
proposition. and a, once ordered the captain
al tue Warsaw laurcrs Co select from his
company q brave, reliable fellow who could
be trusted To undertake. lne impor ant mis-
sion
Elrly on the following day. Lieut. Lacain
sky, a young Pole, Is years Of age. sought
audience of the FIeueh general. who ex-
planned tine nature of fh. serfire he r.qlirei
of The youth, without conrc..ing tle peril, DO
would entail LacsIu-hf. nothing i4uu ei.
declared with % c-Jniemuilous smile CHAT h-
eagerly awaited 1893 opportunity to prove how
little be feared the sucrlilas. and that boz
was prepared 90 set out at once on his jour
ney.
Pleased with the youug Poles enthusiasm,
rs well as with hs evident desire Oh di,tu
guish himself. the general repeated with pre-
cisi0n the message % Doe carried tO Jun0t
Baron StrogauoGs Russian dispatches
having been duly secured, tine courier started
T. AL. ...a .tss.rN.f.Hrn rraa.N .aN .H-
guised In tine uniform Of am officer Of the
cars guard
Nothing of importance occurred until the
afternoon Of the second day. when our hero
entered a defle ia the mountains near Ia a.
vera. H. had not advanced more than a
quartz Of a mile when Dee was met by half a
dozen guerrii.as. who, without waiting 20
parley. roughly dragged ham from his horse,
seized his weapons. ami led lm to IS chapel 10
"A cave hard JOS, where he found himself face
70 face with The terrible Castauos.
"Who are youf asked The gueirillachief in
French, while be angrily scrutinizei the
prisoner
Alive To- the danger Of IBIS position LacAln-
sky heart iailed him for am msiuni' but
quickly recovering bis presence of mind De
fixed bis eyes ON his mtcrl0cutor's face wilma
meaningless stare. Presently he answered in
German. II do not understand"
Castanos called one of bis officers, and IT,
auest4d him TO continue the examination On
the prisoners tongue. Observing tine utmost
caution lest 10y an iuadvertent expression he
mirht betray his knowledge OF French the
Pole replied TO all the officers questions IN
Russian or German.
Durino tbe examination the chapel had be
some crowded with guerrillas, attracted there
hv c,riositv and "a desire for excitement
Each hum upon the prisoners words. eager
tn detect the slightest evidence of deception
on his part. ,
Suddenly there was an interruption, caused
nv the appearance Of Castauos. leading by
The arm a peasant, whom be placed before
the Pole, saying;
aLook carefully at this man and tell us
whether he be Russian. German or. a. l
strongly suspect, a cursed French spy
The peasant obeyed, and presently replied,
in a loud, decided toner
ale is a disguised Frenchman a few
weeks ago. when 1 took "a load Of hay 70
Madrid. this was the very officer who signed
my receipt
Iackinsky betrayed no sign Of fear and
the expression OF his countenance did not
vary rs he looked from one 10 the other OF
the excited soldiers who surrounded him.
They would have torn him 10 pieces had not
their general, discouraged by the failure Of
his test, interfered.
my friends" he loudly exclaimed, moth
ing is yet proved against our prisoner, and he
has certainly proved beyond a doubt that he
does not understand French. This peasant
might easily make a mistake, for At would be
difficult to recognize a man whom be saw
only once, and then in a different uniform
from the one lac now wears. Tie prisoner
looks like Il Russian. bis papers are addressed
10 the cars admiral, and ! think We had bet
Ter allow him u proceed"
mo, no" was the cry that arose from Q
hundred VOICES at once; -we ar~ not yet sat
xfed and hs shall not go until we are"
~But are vs TO take lie risk ot offending